Microstructure and tensile properties of AISI 316 stainless steel electron-beam cladded on C40 mild steel

A 60 kV electron-beam equipment was used to clad an AISI 316 stainless steel plate on C40 plain carbon steel. A homogeneous coating of stainless steel was obtained. The microstructure of the clad layer consisted of delta-ferrite, austenite, M₆C carbide and martensite twinned on 112 crystal faces. The austenite has a heavily dislocated substructure and is characterized by intrinsic stacking faults. The crystallographic relationship between austenite and martensite was consistent with the Kurdjumov-Sachs relationship: {101} martensite{111} austenite and {111} martensite{101} austenite M₆C and austenite followed a relationship such as (110) M₆C(110) austenite and (111) M₆C(111) austenite.